The weapon of a gunman who attempted to shoot a Pennsylvania pastor on Sunday failed to discharge.
The suspect, identified as 26-year-old Bernard Junior Polite, walked up to Pastor Glenn Germany during a sermon at Jesus’ Dwelling Place Church in North Braddock. Polite aimed a firearm directly at Germany, but the weapon failed to fire.
The suspect then pursued the pastor after he fled for cover behind a nearby pulpit.
Polite was then subdued by a congregant who took away the gun. NEW: Gun jams as a 26-year-old man tries shooting a pastor during the middle of a sermon in North Braddock, Pennsylvania.
Pastor Glenn Germany says “only God stopped and jammed this gun.”
Germany revealed that he forgave Bernard Polite, the man who tried killing him after he… pic.twitter.com/Wh3jtQY553
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 6, 2024
"I'm thankful to God that I'm still here, because he definitely pulled the trigger," Germany told Pittsburg ABC affiliate WTAE.
The pastor said he had not seen the suspect before Sunday, but during the service he noticed Polite going in and out of the church and even making eye contact with Germany.
"I started to begin to preach and all of a sudden, from my left-hand side, I saw him move from the back to the front of the church, and he set up in the front corner of the church and smiled at me," he said. "...All of a sudden, I just saw a gun pointing right at me. And at that point, all I could try to do is run for cover."
According to People, the suspect apologized to the pastor.
“I told him, ‘I forgive you and I want you to know I love you,’” Germany said.
“I thank God because only God stopped and jammed this gun," he added, per CBS.
Polite was detained at the church until Pennsylvania State Police troopers arrived and arrested him.
During a subsequent investigation of Polite’s home, police discovered a man who had been shot to death.
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s officer identified the man as Derek Polite, 56, from North Braddock, WTAE reports.
Neighbors told the outlet the two are related.
"Nothing bad has ever happened in that home. There were no domestic violence, no fights, no argument that we know of that we could ever have heard," said neighbor Guy Diperna.
Bernard Polite was arraigned on Monday morning on charges related to the occurrence at Jesus’ Dwelling Place, including attempted homicide.
